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Vol. 13, No. 2, April 2001, 63-69
ARHAT VACANA Kundakunda jñānapitha, Indore
Conflict Resolution Through Non-Violence in Action - The Jaina Approach*
Dr. Narendra P. Jain **
Welcome Opportunity in the Midst of Formidable Challenges
World's religious and spiritual leaders coming together at the Millennium Peace Summit at the United Nations signals a welcome opportunity for initiating a collective politico - spiritual endeavour to move towards durable world peace, inter-faith harmony, healthier ecology and more compassionate interdependence among humanity and other living beings.
The task of implementing a global agenda for peace through Non-violence is, indeed, formidable given egocentric attitudes of nation states, play of power politics, unbridled arms race and continuing conflicts at global, regional and ethnic levels. Religious functioning largely within the narrow confines of orthodoxy and self-centred focus are being misused by fanatics to fuel religious and communal conflicts.
Exploitative violence and competitive struggle for control by human has eroded, polluted and depleted nature's resource base in land, water, forests and minerals. Global network of anti-development lobbies continue to block, delay or derail the process of growth in developing countries thereby creating an environment of frustration and tention in the midst of poverty and backwardness.
The challenge before the summit is not merely to adopt a unanimous Declaration on Tolerance and Non-violence, but even more to open the doors for a concerted and sustained world-wide synergic effort to replace conflict and confrontation by synthesis and conciliation, and exploitation by equity and fair play. Need to Usher in all Pervading Culture of Non-violence
Patch - work solution would not do. Wars will only beget wars and durable peace - both inner and outer will remain elusive. What the world community needs is a all-pervading culture of non-violence for strenthening the foundation of peace and harmony and overcoming hostility, mistrust and greed.
2600 years ago, Lord Mahavira, Jaina Prophet (Tirthankara) called for practice of non-violence in action in all aspects of individual and community
Spiritual Leaders
* Presensted in Millennium Peace Summit of Religious &
United Nations, New York, August 28-31, 2000 ** Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India
to E.U., U.N., Nepal, Mexico, Belgium. Jain Education International
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